Sharks’ Vlasic OK, but Nieto still hurt in good news/bad news day on injury front

If the Sharks are to earn a fifth straight win on home ice Thursday, they’ll have to do it without three of their quickest players.

Not only are forwards Mike Brown and Tyler Kennedy out for extended periods, but Matt Nieto said he still felt some discomfort in his ankle during today’s skate. He’s been placed on IR, retroactive to Dec. 5.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan saw Marc-Edouard Vlasic on Wednesday and said the defenseman looked and felt good, boosting the team’s hopes that he’ll be able to play against Minnesota at SAP Center.

Brown was a topic of conversation today, as the Sharks prepare to be without one of their toughest players for the foreseeable future. Advanced stats might suggest Brown does not have an overall positive impact on the games he plays, but those in the Sharks’ locker room and coaches offices feel quite differently.

Andrew Desjardins on his linemate: “We all love him. He just plays hard and plays the same way. You always know what you’re getting when he’s on the ice. He’s going to finish every check and he just has that energy about him that brings everybody else up, myself included.”

Todd McLellan on his fourth line player: “If Mike Brown scores 20 goals, we’re all going to be happy. But he’s more important to the team than just the goals. He blocks shots, he gets involved physically for his teammates. The energy he creates on the forecheck, the command he has around his teammates in the locker room. Those are all really important assets that he brings to the table.

“I said the other day, I used the words ‘everybody’s important’ and in different ways. There’s guys that when they pick up the stat sheet, they’re not always looking at the goals and assists. But they’re looking at other areas because they know that’s what they bring.”

The Sharks will likely call someone up from Worcester to replace Brown on the 23-man roster, but it may not necessarily be a grinder-type that would fit in well on the fourth line. McLellan said several factors go into the decision on who to bring up. They figure in the opposition and the players that they’ve lost. “Nieto and Kennedy are a little different than Brown, so we have to replace that. But we also have to see who’s ready down there and who deserves the opportunity. That’s usually the most important thing.”

With the Sharks holding an optional practice, there was no way to figure out what the lines/d-pairs will look like for tomorrow’s game. I’m guessing everything stays the same, with Tye McGinn moving into Brown’s spot on the fourth line. Again, just a guess. Still awaiting word on who the Sharks might call up from Worcester, and that might change things.

If you’re going to the Tank tomorrow, or anywhere on the roads, stay safe. Gonna be a doozy of a storm from all indications.